Rahul Gandhi not to be anointed PM candidate

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi will not be Congress party's nominee for prime ministership in the April-May Lok Sabha polls but will lead the election campaign, the party announced on Thursday putting at rest all speculation about his role.

The decision was taken at the two-hour meeting of the extended Congress Working Committee brushing aside an overwhelming demand for anointing him the PM nominee ahead of the polls.

Addressing those who voiced the clamour for declaration of Rahul as PM candidate, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said there is no tradition in the party to declare a PM candidate before polls.

The demand for Rahul to be made PM candidate was raised by Kerala PCC chief Ramesh Chennithala and got instant support from a host of leaders including BK Hari Prasad, Gurudas Kamat, Ghulam Nabi Azad and youth Congress chief Rajiv Satav.